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By Benton H, Thomas* 

Jeonlngs, Loulsiainau 



Cost of Production, Tim Cents. 



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RECORD ^RINT. ia03. 



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INTRODUCTION. 

Tn O those who are kincUy disposed, The 
" Author herein submits a few Hnes of 
Prose and Verse on the subjects of Practical 
Christianity, The Industries, Temperance. 
Also Love and Marriage. 

Respectfully, 
BENTON H. THOMAS, 



Home Verse for the Youth, 



In the country or the villag'e, 

In the city's busy life, 
Every one must make a record, 

LoomiDg' up midst noise and strife. 

Prejudice or envy, spiteful, 
May abuse the public mind, 

Of a brotlier's g-ood intentions, 
But cool history's seldom blind. 

Build your record, "all the same then, " 
Keep the pages bright and clean, 

Don't get spotted, crooked, tricky, 
Thinking it will be. your gain, 

You'll be looser in the finish 

Of a noble warfare on, 
Dwarfed, despised, with manhood 
blighted. 

Good name and honor likewise gone. 

Let your thoughts and deeds be honest, 
Pure and wholesome, useful, true; 

Then you laj' a good foundation. 
Wide and deep, substantial too. 

Like a noble structure, solid, 
Built not on the shinirig sands^ 



But upon the Rock of Ages. 
As^w;© follow His commands. 

T et us look about our city, 
Looming up on every hand 

We can see the beauteous structures. 
Putting on proportions grand. 

Thus is character imortal, 

Builded noble, strong and fair; 

By faith and love and works united 
That furnish brick and mortar rare. 

With every thought and act a fragment 
Fashioned snugly to its place, 

A splendid growth, and when completed 
Presents a miracJe of grace. 

The Architect of all the earth 

May try the structure as it grows. 

For no one can escape the storms. 
That with existence comes and goes. 

F.ut hold on brother, true and hard* 
The fight of faith to wage and win; 

The victory surely will be yours 
When fellow reapers gather in. 



Love^ and^s^ War. 



He drank the iove-]ii>hfc in the maid- 
en's eye, and murmered softly, 
darling'!. -"*;_ 

Methinks that God in honest purpose, 
has ordained that Love; should 
speak first through the eye. 

While nearer, dearer and clearer the 
attachment grows, till the heart, 
lain bare gives up its treasure, 
and matrimony, the result. 

But it is not all of life to love or 
mp-rry; 

There i^ a spiritual warfare on and 
the heart the battlefield.. The God 
of Heaven i as ordered the conflict. 

Are you in it? Is the mind and heart 
awake, and your weaporvs bright 



and keen? 

Have you on the breast-plate of right- 
eousness — the shield of faith and 
helmet of hope? 

Let nol? human love merge into spirit- 
ual idolatry, for that is sin. Bow 
dare we lo^ e the creature more 
than the creator? 

But the pure heart can love at first 
sight, can love in courtship, can 
love in matrimony, can love 
brothers, friends, home and coun- 
try and yet can fight and wage de- 
termined war ag-ainst sin and 
wrong. 

And thus may \/e be worthy the name 
of a soldier m the ranks of the 
King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 



If I Had A Gusher. 

An Ideal Home. 



1 had a gashsr, me thinks 
I would buy a tract of land 
In a suitable location. 

Having trees and water, and 

I would build an auditorium 

Quite central in.tne plat, 
A large round structure. 

Plain, but neat, commodious, too, 
so that 

A goodly throng of sinners 
Might gather neath its walls. 

To hear the blessed Gospel, 
As with saving grace it calls. 

Surrounding, looking outward, 
I'd build office rooms: and such, 

] ach manned by ready hearts and 
hands, 
Vv'ith human wants in touch. 



And provided that both sexes 
Might with freedom here apply. 

To make their wants and wishes known 
And to find relief so nigh. 

To cause a tear of gratitude 

To come trickling down the face 
That had scarcely known a smile of joy 



In life's uneven race. 



To he or she who seeks a place 

A word of information 
Wo Id here supply the needed want 

Without procrastination. 

I'd have a pretty reading room. 
With books and kindly greeting; 

A place where hand and heart could 
rest, 
In kindly social meeting. 



"if 1 Had a Gusher." [Continued.] 



Upon the outskirts of this plat, 
Rectangular E'd place them, 

Four rows of cottages so white 
That virtue fein would claim them. 

And just above the Gospel room, 

A thrice-a-week reception, 
For lads and lasses there to meet, 

In happy contemplation. 

Perhaps to make a choice for life, 
Wnile marriage vows are spoken. 

The promise made with good intent, 
NoL to be lightly broken. 

Me thinks e'en now I see two hands 

And honest hearts united; 
Since John and Mary, side by side. 

Their sacred vows have plighted. 

As from the altar, arm in arm, 
They nass along before me. 

•With hope and co srage in their mein. 
They pleasantly salute me 

straight to the employment desk 

John manfully advances, 
While each with glad encouragement 

Exchange inquiring glances. 

Yes John, we've got a Job for you, 
.The clerk responding frankly 

We want a teamster, can you drive? 
.(Just ring up Mr. Blankley.) 

He'll give youfoi-ty dollars, John, 

If you contin-ue hardy, 
With nerve to manage four in hand. 

And never turn up tardy- 

I think I'll fill the bill, said John, 
I've done the same before, sir. 

But don't forget I'm married now; 
I'd like to build a home, sir. 

You're welcome John, to stay w th us 
As long as ,you are pleased to; 

And there's a cottage bright and new, 
Withclimb'ng vines and trees, too. 

But one request we yet would make. 
You'll guess what I am thinking, 



That you v/Lll promise honor bright, 
To give up nov/ your drinking. 

I'll do the s; me so help m" God 
And though I'm young and frisky, 

I'll choose my bi-ide and "home sweet 
home, " 
By far, to hell and -vhisky'. 

So take your bride and cottage, John, 

With furniture completed 
And five a month will pay the bi 1, 

You shall not be'defeaied. 

The blushing bride and John consent 
vv ith future bright and rosy; 

They hand in hand possessio i take 
The { ew home neat anu cosy. 

But. readers, our ideal home, 

Should not be isolated. 
But be in touch and sympathy, 

With all whom God created. 

I'd build a lit^.le railroad line, 

To take the people tlience, 
.The charge for round trip ticket 

Wouldoniy be five c:-nts. 

In this dear home I'd welcome all 

Who with a purpose true. 
Would seek advice or sympathy, 
- Or something they could do. ' 

I Vi'ould not reject the arring, 

if penitent and true, . . 
To new determinations 

Life's battles to renevv^. . 

The past would be forgotten; 

Forgiven throusfh His name, 
No withering sad reflections 

Should ee'r come up again. 

God's grace is all sufficient 

If man will only hear. 
The door is ever open, 

The way of life is clear. 

And no power ee'r can close it, 

The door of mercy sweet, 
To any soul responsive, 

While waiting at his feet. 



Labor and Capital. 



Labor aLd Capital, hand in hand, 

Develop resources in every land. 

As man is beholden somewhat to his 

brother, 
So the former's related the same to 

the other. 

The Coffers of wealth, with their 

sheckles of g^old, 
Could g-ive no relief, but be useless 

and cold. 
If God-^iven eherg-y put not forth her 

hand 
To g-ather the fruits of our pleasant 

land. 

The greatest achievements that ever 

were wrought, 
Are products of genius and labor of 

thought. 
The hum of the factoy, the shop and 

the mill, 
Would be hushed like the tomb without 



manag-ing- skill. 

From the least to the greatest, each 

one takes a part 
In the volume of business, whether 

science or art. 
Wealth, like material raw from the 

ground, 
May develop in benefits to many 

around. 

And reflect deserved credit on the 

happy promoters, 
(No objections in Jennings if 

they're first-class tetotlers.) 

To labor let just Compensation be 

tendered, 
According- to skill and faithfulness 

rendered, 
And ir there be points that require 

explanation, 
Let the same be adjusted by fair 

arbitration. 



rhe Contr£kct System. 

Its Benefits and Its Abuses. 



Under the federal constitution "the 
greatest g-ood to the greatest number" 
ought to be the "key note" in the dis- 
tribution of the many and varied in- 
dustrial opportunities continually 
arising in a prosperous and happy 
community. It is, however, the undis- 
putable tendencies of monopolies and 
trusts among" us to crush the smaller 
operator from the field or absorb him. 
That is, to hinder and finally dis- 
courage the man of limited means in 
the development of his small capital 
in the direction of realizing those re- 
wards, which, under equal commercial 
advantages, and w th proper dilli- 



gence he could r>btain. 

It may be asserted, and not from a 
lack of patriotism, that to certain 
customs, or rather abuses, in the be- 
stowing of public benefits, national, 
state and municipal, is due the ad- 
vantages secured by the rich and 
powerful over the middle classes and 
poor. 

No argument herein is being- at- 
tempted against the contract system, 
as such; the object being only to indi- 
cate the possibilities of eradicating 
some of the abuses connected with the 
same. 

Speaking definitely, it is evident 



The Contract Systenu [Continued.] 



that every g-eneral contract let out and 
completed under a superintendant and 
t'orem n takes away in a ruthless 
manner so much business from the 
smaller contractor, whose class com- 
poses a fair proportion of tljc; pio- 
oressive business men of our com- 
munity, VVhile manj'^ contracts are 
let in this way, it canni>t be claimed 
that the completion of the same are 
always attended with the best results. 

Ri{j:ht here tne writer would cal' at- 
teation to the prevailinjr customes in 
our larger cities. Where elej>ant 
mansions and other fine structures are 
desijjfned it is now the custom of the 
architects in a great majority of cases 
to specialize the bidding; that is, 
each artizan, or master workman fig- 
ures on his special line. He obtains 
the full profits of the same, and is ex- 
yjacted to give his best talents and ex- 
perience to his work. 

While the seperate bidding is ac- 
companied by a slight additional 
tronble and expense, the excellent le- 
Sdlts and general satisfaction to the 
owner, archi';e<;ts and mechanics are 
s"ch as to more than '•epay for the 
trouble. While the above plan would 
seem an innovation as regards court 
houses, school buildings etc., it vvould 



neither be impracticable nor unlaw- 
ful, although it might occasion a little 
inconvenience. 

It .cannot be denied that whJit would 
be of advantage to the elegant con- 
st iu<-^i<^n of private builclings would 
likewise appij' to public structures, to 
pay for which the people are taxed . 
This po'icy at the same time being 
consistant with the spirit of our in- 
stitutio-'S, based upon the principal 
of 'the greatest good to -the greatest 
number. " 

Jn conclusion, the writer of this, 
who with others, feels the harmful 
pressure of this form of monoply here- 
in pointed out and existing in our 
very midst, makes an earnest appeal 
to mechanics and all others opposed 
to "special privileges," to defeat if 
possible by all honorable means the 
superintendent system esproially as 
applied ti the Building Trades 
which is calculated to work so 
great hardship to a vast number 
of well-to-do contractors of limited 
means whose prosperity means the 
liberal employment of journeymen, 
and who are, tiy rights entitled to the 
rewards and credit in a line of work 
peculiarly their own. 




First Betrothal. 



:( Adam Soliloquising in the Garden. ) 
A monarch, surrounded by all this 
splendor, 

Yet no companionship. 

When io— from far— a creature new 
appears 

Like and yet unlike myself., 

I'il speak— The color rises to my face. 

And then her own sweet blush responds. 

With ?ow obeisance I addressed her 
thus: 

Welcome thou maiden fair, and what 
mijiiit be your name? 



And she in moaest tones replied — 

Kind sir, Good morn. '. 

The birds and flowers and e'en the 
brutes, with stately tread, have 
found a name, and yet not I. 

Perhaps my lord you might suggest. 

Ah yes Me thinks I heard God say, 
"It is not good that the man 
should be alone, I will make him 
an help mate for him. " 

And you, he kindly wi'-ely sent to be 
my bride — and with your leaye — 
as I have named these other beau- 
ties here, my dear ['11 call vou 
Eve; 



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As faF as the reg-ulation of the sa- 
loon i^ concerned; the Licensed -^^aloon 
business as an organization through- 
out the c >UQtry — is today one of the' 
most gig.mtic and villainous despot- 
ism;i ^>f oui' times; growing fat and 
impudent on the wrec'vs of char icter 
manhood and fortune thac it strews 
bro ido ist upon com n laites; the chief 
sufferers oLitside -oh t s'ict.ims themselves 



being th€ kindly patient and forbaring 
mothers .an 1 daughters of our land. 

It is a fact that many persons have 
sought Jennings as a home in order to 
get rid of the saloons elsewhe'8. Peo- 
ple of character, brains and rice, if 
vou please. 

Let us have at least one clean soo 
on the map of Southwestern Louisiana. 

Vote for a drv council. 



A Motive. 



Yes! We want to build a c/iov 
And would like to build it rigvht 

But we cannot be successful 
With one haU" the people "tij^bt " 

If we want to build a city 
And would like to build it dry 

The Sd-loon must "Lend enchantment 
T(.) the landscape" — on the fly — 

If we want to build a city 
And would jike to build it clean 

Let s eradicate the causes 
That woti'd luake it vile »nd mean. 

Some say saloons and o-amblers 
Make it lively for* a town 



They surely do for waakiiairs 
And they do the business brown. 

And when bheircash and credits gone 
in exc!ian_2e lor ri >se*s L-eil 

Instead of lively times for them 
Ther're about as good j:s dead. 

Now to the young and silly ones 
Don,t think, that to be a man 

You must t,ake in all th( follies 
D ) be a 'eader in the van. 

You may blight a noble manhood 
And make yourself a tool 

t^'oi* the tili-hy greed of others, 
in short — you'll play the fool. 



Faith, Hope, Ch2krity. 



Blest trio of Graces — these Three; 

Worth more than rich ore in Earth's 
mine. 
The first, stays the mind upon God, 

Secure 'midst the shipwrecks of time 

Say! Sinner, if thou canst but hear, 
The Master is calling for thee: 

Repent, have faith to return 
From the bondage of guilt to be free 

Hope lightens the burden we bear: 
For, "Easy My yoke" He has said. 



Like the sun than enlivens the day, 
Hope illumens the path that we tread. 



And Charity, gr*^atest of all, 

How it waiteth, still vvaiteth for thee: 
To bring ripened fruit to the garner. 

The Lord of the harvest to see. 



Charity never is failing. 

To a neighbor it worketh no ill: 
Of the law 'tis a happy fulfilling, 

The perfume of heaven's blest will. 










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IIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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